Cover applying mechanism for can washing machines



April 1939- H. p. LATHROP 2,154,172

CQVER APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 30, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' I p 1 1939- H. D. LATHROP 2,154,172

COVER APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. so, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiverzzQr; i7 a grag,

April 11, 1939. H. D. LATHROP 2,154,172

COVER APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ltlntrttlnlili' Filed NOV. 30, 1936 April 11, 1939- H. D. LATHROP 2,154,172

COVER APPLYING MECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 30, 1936 4 Sheets-Shet 4 g &

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVER APPLYING 1WECHANISM FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES Application November 30, 1936, Serial No. 113,511

Claims.

This invention relates to a cover applying mechanism for can washing machines. The particular mechanism described herein is especially adapted for applying covers to milk cans after 5 the cans and covers have been thoroughly washed and are ready to be discharged. from the machine.

An object of the invention is to provide mechanism which will place a cover on each can as the cans pass forwardly on a conveyor.

Another object is to provide mechanism which discharges a cover toward the opening of a can, the discharging means being operated through contact with each can.

A further object is to provide a mechanism which prevents covers from being discharged except when a can is moved to a position in which it may receive a cover. Other objects and advantages appear as the specification proceeds.

A preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of my cover applying device, the chute being shown in raised positon, and showing a can on the conveyor approaching the end of the chute; Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the can moved forwardly to a position under the end of the chute, and showing the chute in lowered or discharging position; Fig. 3, a plan view, the hood and drive connection being shown in section as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 4, a broken sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3, and showing the discharging mechanism in open or discharging position; Fig. 5, a fragmentary sectional view, the section being 5 taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3, and showing the discharging mechanism in closed or non-discharging position; Fig. 6, a view in end elevation showing the discharging mechanism in open position; and Fig. 7, a detail sectional view of one end of the discharging mechanism, the section being taken as indicated at line 7 of Fig. 3.

As illustrated, A designates a frame or support; B, a cover chute; and C, cover releasing mechanism.

The frame A may be of any suitable construction. As here illustrated, it includes a longitudinal conveyor track it, upon which a conveyor ll, of well known construction, is operated. Conveyor II is of the metal chain type and has dogs l2 for propelling the covers forwardly. The frame and conveyor are of the same construction as those now in common use, the portion here shown being used to convey the cans from the machine after they have been thoroughly .cleansed. Ateach side of track l0 is-a vertical standard l3 to which thechute supporting'memhers l4 and I5 are pivotally attached.

The-cover chute 'B, which may be formedsubstantially of sheet metal, comprises a'chute body l6 which includesparallel sides I! and I8 and a bottom [9 havingits forward portion inclined downwardly. Over the downwardly inclined portion of bottom 19 is a liner bottom 20 which has its edges tapered inwardly to a neck portion 2|. The forward end of liner bottom 20 is turned down and hooked overtheend of chute bottom l9, as'shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. Slots 22-extend through chute bottom l9 and liner bottom 20, and receive bolts 22 by which the supports ld and I5-are adjustably fastened.

Liner sides 23 and 24 extend along the tapered edges of liner bottom 20 and join with the sides ofchute body I6. The liner side 24 is extended rearwardly along chute side l1 and is provided with an upwardly extending flange 24 which serves as a guard for the covers as they enter this portion of the chute.

Thecover releasing mechanism C is mounted at the forward end of the chute and comprises a bar or shaft 25 journaled at each end in bearings 26 secured to chute sides I! and I8 by bolts 21. Shaft 25 is cut away on one side to form the straight surface 28 which is at approximately an even level with the top surface of liner bottom 20- when the shaft 25 is turned to open position, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Surface 28 may be slightly lower than the top of liner 2|], but it should not be at a higher level for in such event it would catch the bottom of the coversas they slide forward and prevent theirsliding easily from the chute.

Stops 29 and 30 project from shaft 25 and when the shaft is turned to open position, as shown in Fig. 4, extend substantially vertically. When the shaft is turned to closed position, as shown in Fig. 5, these stops engage the bottom IQ of chute body H5 at each side of neck portion- 2!.

A jaw 3| is pivotally attached to chute B at bearings 32 by bolts 33. The bottom 34 of jaw 3| extends completely'across the chute at the forward end and at its forward edge has a lip 35 directly under shaft 25. If desired, the sides 36 of the jaw 3| may be extended upwardly and provided with a cover 31, which with the sides 36 forms a hood.

The forward portion of jaw 3| is equipped at each side with a toothed sector 38, which is adapted to engage a gear 39, one of which is secured on each end of shaft 25 outside of chute sides I1 and H3. The engagement between sectors 38 and gears 39 is such that when the jaw 3| is in lowered position, the top parts of sectors 38 engage gears 39 and the shaft 25 is turned to closed position, as shown in Fig. 5; and when the jaw 3| is raised, the lower part of sector 38 engages gears 39 and the shaft 25 is turned to open position, as shown in Fig. 4.

Any suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering chute B. As illustrated, a bracket 40 is. attached on each side of ,chute body l6, and a link 4| connects bracket 49 with one end of a lever 42, the other end of which is connected to a fixed arm 43. A rod 44 connected with a central portion of lever 42 is arranged to move vertically and is driven by the power means which drives the conveyor Operation After the cans have been completely washed and cleansed, they are carried from the washing machine on conveyor II. The cans are equally spaced and are pushed forward by dogs l2. Fig. 1 shows a can 45 approaching the end of the cover chute. The covers for the cans, after being thoroughly cleansed, are conducted into chute B and slide down to the forward end Where the foremost cover is retained in neck 2| by shaft 25 now held in closed position by the weight of jaw 3|. Covers may be introduced into chute B in any suitable way. For example, they may be rolled in on their edges and then caused to fall over on their neck portions. The guard 24* serves to prevent their bouncing out as they are fed into the chute.

As can 45 moves forwardly on conveyor I I and comes to a position directly under lip 35 of jaw 3|, rod 44 is lowered and allows chute B to be lowered, the supports l4 and I5 turning about their pivoted point. When the lip 35 comes into contact with the top of a can, jaw 3| begins to turn about its pivoted attachment at bolts 33, and as the chute descends further, the gears 39 rotate and move downwardly along sectors 38. This operates to turn shaft 25 to open position and the foremost cover may slide from the chute, as shown at Fig. v2. As the cover moves from the chute, it strikes the edge of the neck of the can and when the can has moved forward a sufiicient distance, the cover slides free of the chute and. drops into the neck of the can. But before the cover is entirely free from the chute, the rod 44 begins to move upwardly to raise the chute. This causes gear 39 to rotate and move upwardly along sector 38to again bring the flat side of shaft 25 into vertical position to close the end of the chute just as the first cover has left the chute. Stops 29 and 30 engage bottom l9 to prevent shaft 25 from turning too far and to prevent disengagement of sectors 38 with gear 39.

The above operation is repeated as each can comes into position under jaw 3| and each time a cover is discharged into the neck of the can. If, through any reason the conveyor is not carrying a capacity number of cans, as if every third or every other can is missing, this will not cause covers to be discharged on the floor or will not in any way interrupt the operation of the device. If when the chute is lowered, no can is there to contact lip- 35 of jaw 3|, the end of the chute will not be opened and no cover will can is discharged may be advanced or retarded and the movement of the chute properly synchronized with the movement of the cans.

While in the foregoing description I have described specific structures in detail, it will be understood that many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character set forth, a frame, a cover chute movably mounted thereon, means for raising and lowering the chute, a cover release member secured to said chute and consisting of a cylindrical member rotatably mounted in the forward portion of said chute, said member having one side portion cut away so as to provide a top surface substantially flush with the surface of the chute when the cutaway portion is uppermost but presenting an obstruction above the surface of the chute when the cutaway portion is not uppermost, and means carried by the chute and adapted to be actuated by engagement with an object therebelow for rotating said bar to bring the cutaway portion thereof uppermost when an object is engaged.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a frame, a cover chute hingedly supported by said frame, means for raising and lowering said chute, a release member carried by the free end portion of said chute and comprising a cylindrical y member rotatably mounted in the end portion of said chute and having a portion thereof cut away to bring the cutaway face portion of the cylindrical member substantially flush with the surface of said chute, and means carried by said chutefor engaging an object therebelow to actuate said member to said last-mentioned position, said means causing said cylindrical member to rotate to an obstructing position when the chute is lifted out of engagement with said object.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a frame, a cover chute pivotally secured on said frame, a cover guard having a top wall and two side walls extending over said chute, said side walls being pivotally connected to said chute and having an extension therebelow for engagement with an object when the chute is lowered, a cover release device pivotally supported by the end of said chute, and cooperating means carried by said release device and said cover guard for moving said release member to releasing position when the object is engaged.

4. In a device of the character set forth, a frame, a chute pivotally supported by said frame, means for moving the chute upwardly and downwardly, a release mechanism carried by the end portion of said chute, said release mechanism comprising a rotatable member having a flat side adapted to be aligned with the bottom of said chute and forming a continuation thereof when in releasing position and forming a vertical wall at the end of the chute when in obstructing position, and means carried by said chute for engagement with an object therebelow for actuating said mechanism to releasing and obstructing positions.

5. In a device of the character set forth, a frame, a chute movably mounted upon said frame, means for moving said chute upwardly and downwardly, a cover releasing mechanism associated with the free end portion of said chute, said mechanism comprising a rotatable member carried by the end portion of said chute providing a flat surface substantially flush with the flat surface of said chute when in releasing position and providing a vertical wall obstructing said chute above when in obstructing position, and means associated with the end portion of said chute for operating said rotatable member to released position when said means engages am object below said chute.

HARRY D. LATH'ROP. 

